40-Year devt plan not guarantee for success – Director General, NDPC

The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson has stated that Ghana’s 40-year development plan is not a guarantee for the country’s success.

He explained that Ghana can only achieve her set target and goals if the citizenry are committed and dedicated to national development through hard work.

The Director-General made this statement when his commission met with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), research organisation and other think-tanks as part of their stakeholder meetings.

He noted that Article 36 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana gives room for the country to have a development plan, as well as public outcry from the constitutional review committee to have such plan.

Dr. Thompson said the development plan will go a long way to assist the various political parties and the country as a whole since its implementation will ensure continuity in the country’s growth.

He added that a short to medium-term priority areas to be tackled include agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism, apparel and accessories, educational and medical service, oil and gas, waste management and coastal, landscape and forest management.

Representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Afari, lauding the initiative, emphasised that there should be rules to guide the plan else it will fail.

He further added that every citizen must be included in the plan because “planning and development does not come from the government and politicians but from the people”.

The Convention People’s Party also averred that the “National Development Plan is a stepping stone to decolonising the economy”.

They added that the agricultural sector must have an industrial take-off since the plan in a way is self-sufficient.